The Meaning of Matthew 7:18 Explained

Matthew 7:18

KJV: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

YLT: A good tree is not able to yield evil fruits, nor a bad tree to yield good fruits.

Darby: A good tree cannot produce bad fruits, nor a worthless tree produce good fruits.

ASV: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Discover Matthew 7:18

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Matthew 7:18?

MEANING: What does Matthew 7:18 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Matthew 7:18 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Matthew 7:18?

What is the context of Matthew 7:18?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

What does Matthew 7:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 7:13-23 - Seeking Life Testing Leaders

The world is full of shams. Counterfeit coins circulate; paste jewels are worn. Let us take heed against a counterfeit religion. It betrays itself thus:

(1) It does not involve the denial of self. Our Lord compares this to entrance by a strait gate and walking on a narrow path. It is the way of the Cross. We must say "No" to the "I" life which is seated in our soul and which must be ruthlessly denied. We must say of it as Peter did of Jesus, "I do not know the man." The way of self-indulgence begins on a primrose path and ends in a wilderness. The path of self-denial is steep and difficult at the start, but leads to a paradise of joy.

(2) It does not produce good fruit. The worth of the gospel has been attested all down the ages by the characters which it has produced and which have been the world's salt and light. No other teaching has produced such results. Here is the supreme test. There are many new systems of theology, many nostrums are being loudly advertised, but the one test of them all is in the fruit they bear. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 7

¹ Do Not Judge
⁷ Ask, Seek, Knock
¹³ Enter through the Narrow Gate
¹⁵ A Tree and Its Fruit
²⁴ The Wise and the Foolish Builders
²⁸ Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished

What do the individual words in Matthew 7:18 mean?

Not is able a tree good fruits bad to produce nor bad good

οὐ δύναται δένδρον ἀγαθὸν καρποὺς πονηροὺς ποιεῖν οὐδὲ σαπρὸν καλοὺς

δύναται	is able
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: δύναμαι Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
δένδρον	a tree
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: δένδρον Sense: a tree.
ἀγαθὸν	good
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: ἀγαθός Sense: of good constitution or nature.
καρποὺς	fruits
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: καρπός Sense: fruit.
πονηροὺς	bad
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: πονηρός Sense: full of labours, annoyances, hardships.
ποιεῖν	to produce
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: ποιέω Sense: to make.
οὐδὲ	nor
Parse: Conjunction Root: οὐδέ Sense: but not, neither, nor, not even.
σαπρὸν	bad
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: σαπρός Sense: rotten, putrefied.
καλοὺς	good
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: καλός Sense: beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.

What are the major concepts related to Matthew 7:18?

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Similar Scriptures for Matthew 7:18

		Galatians 5:17 [5]
		1 John 3:9-10 [5]